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Artists in the Auburn
Artists in the Auburn: The Grand Theatre's development program for London-based artists is back for a second season! The program was created to increase the Grand's efforts on connecting with established and emerging theatre artists living in London and the surrounding area, and consists of four exciting pillars:
1. A season-long Playwrights Lab, led by director, dramaturge, and Grand Theatre Artistic Director Rachel Peake.
2. A series of hands-on Workshops offered by some of the top theatre artists in Canada, all currently based in southwestern Ontario.
3. A Speaker Series designed for indie, emerging, and community theatre participants to build their practical theatre skills.
4. Rental space available on the Auburn Stage for independent productions, workshops, lectures, and other gatherings.
Whether you are a professional artist, an emerging artist, a participant in community arts, or simply curious about getting started, this program is for you! Keep reading to learn more:
After a thrilling launch in 2024, The Grand Theatre is proud to announce the return of the Cascade Playwrights’ Lab for the upcoming 2025/26 season! This dynamic, season-long initiative invites London-based playwrights to dive into the heart of their craft, connect with fellow local writers, and boldly develop new work. For the upcoming season, we're expanding the Lab with two unique streams of participation — the Writing Currents: Tools and Exploration stream, designed to ignite new ideas and processes; and the Script Development Dramaturgy stream, focused on deepening and refining existing scripts. Whether you're starting fresh or polishing a passion project, the Cascade Playwrights’ Lab is your place to grow, experiment, and thrive within a supportive artistic community.
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Rachel Peake has a long history of new play development having worked as a dramaturge of plays, musical, and opera for over fifteen years. For five years she led Solo Collective Theatre, a Vancouver-based company that at the time produced exclusively new Canadian work. She led new play initiatives at the Citadel Theatre from 2017 to 2020 and conceived the Citadel’s first Collider Festival of New Works. For Gros Morne Summer Music Rachel oversaw the creation of twelve new pieces over four years.
The second pillar of the Artists in the Auburn series is a collection of workshops, hosted by some of Canada's most sought-after playwrights, actors, directors and producers, as well as the Grand's own Rachel Peake.
Pay-What-You-Can: increments of $20 / $35 / $50
(A half day workshop with these artists would typically be priced at $100/person. This workshop is being subsidized by the Grand Theatre’s Community Outreach Program.)
Acting Through Song
Discover the art of storytelling through song in this dynamic three-hour workshop for singers of all levels. Explore practical techniques while unlocking the heart of the story and learning new ways to connect with the music. With story alignment, intention and a clear connection to emotion, you’ll learn how to let the story lead the sound—whether it’s a simple “Happy Birthday” or a soaring Broadway showstopper.
Date: December 16th 2025
Time: 6p.m. – 9p.m.
Location: Grand Theatre, Developers Rehearsal Hall
Workshop Facilitator: Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane
Directing Actors
For both actors and directors, this workshop offers a collaborative deep-dive into the shared language of performance. Discover practical tools, dynamic exercises, and strategies that foster a creative partnership between actor and director—built on trust, clarity, and mutual understanding. Learn how to work together to craft performances that are nuanced, embodied, and emotionally resonant. Whether you're guiding the vision or stepping into a role, you’ll leave with greater confidence, sharper instincts, and a more integrated approach to bringing characters to life.
Date: March 2nd, 2026
Time: 6p.m. – 9p.m.
Location: Grand Theatre, Drewlo Lounge
Workshop Facilitator: Nicole Wilson
Step into the Show: Move with Come from Away
Step into the rehearsal room with Come From Away choreographer Nicol Spinola for an inspiring exploration of ensemble movement, dance, and physical storytelling. In this high-energy workshop, actors will dive into the power of the body as a storytelling tool—discovering how movement, rhythm, and connection bring depth and emotion to the stage. Open to actors and dancers of all levels, this session invites anyone excited by the magic of ensemble work and the expressive potential of the body.
Date: April 20th, 2026
Time: 6p.m. – 9p.m.
Location: Grand Theatre, Auburn Stage
Workshop Facilitator: Nicol Spinola
SPEAKER SERIES
The third pillar of the Artists in the Auburn series is a speaker series, featuring a collection of local and national theatre artists engaging with special topics pertaining to those who choose theatre as a career, including The Business of Theatre and Theatre Tech 101. Stay connected with the Grand Theatre on social media, or keep a close eye on this page for more information about registering for the series!
Pitching a Play
Got a play you believe in — but not sure how to get it produced? Found a script you’re dying to direct — but don’t know how to pitch it to a theatre? This forum is for playwrights and directors who want to pitch a play for production at community theatres, summer stock companies, or local performing groups. Whether you’re new to pitching or looking to sharpen your approach, we’ll cover how to: target the right theatres for your work, tailor and strengthen your pitch, present yourself and your project with clarity and confidence, & hear from artists who’ve successfully pitched their work and get real-world advice on what theatres are actually looking for.
Bring your questions, your ideas, and your passion — and leave with tools to move your project forward.
Date: January 26th, 2026
Time: 7p.m. – 8:30p.m.
Location: Auburn Stage & Virtual (hybrid)
Workshop Facilitators: Dean Gabourie and Keith Barker
The Hustle
Whether you're curious about the day-to-day life of a professional actor, director, or theatre creator, unsure how to break into the theatre scene, or looking to shift your focus within the industry — this forum is for you.
Join a candid conversation with multi-hyphenate artists who wear many hats — from producer to director, actor to creator. Hear how they got their start, how they navigate the industry, and what it really takes to bring theatre to life. Whether you're dreaming of your first steps or planning your next pivot, this is your chance to learn directly from those making it happen.
Bring your questions. No filter, no gatekeeping — just real talk from real artists.
Date: May 25th, 2026
Time: 7p.m. – 8:30p.m
Location: Grand Theatre, Auburn Stage
Workshop Facilitators: Alexandra Kane and Izad Etemadi
RENTALS
The Auburn is available for rentals for independent and community productions as well as workshops, lectures, and other gatherings. If you have an event that engages with art and community, we would love to have you in our theatre! Reach out for more information at rentals [at] grandtheatre.com (rentals[at]grandtheatre[dot]com)
